Further measures on fundraising could be introduced to the charities bill as a result of the review of the self-regulation of fundraising that was recently announced by the government.

Prime Minister David Cameron has already pledged to add extra clauses to the bill to make fundraising agencies say in their contracts with charities how they will protect the vulnerable, and to oblige charities to give details of their fundraising activities in their annual reports.

Now the Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, has confirmed that more additions could be made to the bill if the review concludes they are necessary.

The review, led by Sir Stuart Etherington, chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations, is expected to report by 19 September, when the Charities (Protection and Social Investment) Bill will not yet have been finalised.

Etherington said the review’s terms of reference were to assess the effectiveness of the existing system of self-regulation and of the methods it uses to set standards of conduct. He said other issues were whether membership was wide enough of the Fundraising Standards Board (FRSB), which currently includes charities that receive half of giving in the UK, and whether the FRSB should have stronger sanctions.

Charities that are affected by this news and are looking at ways to develop may find it helpful to discuss their options and financial issues with professional advisers that specialise in this area. For more information on how Milsted Langdon’s charities team can help, please contact us.